Malvina says Kiri didn't mean to offend

Comparing Dame Kiri Te Kanawa with Hayley Westenra would be like comparing a rugby player with a cricketer, Dame Malvina Major said before performing at the Wine, Women and Song concert, held at Caccia Birch yesterday.

When asked about Dame Kiri's recent comments about "popera" star Hayley Westenra "not being in her world", Dame Malvina said there could be no comparison between the two.

"There are people in this world who are strong enough to sing over an orchestra of some 80 to 100 people and still hit the back wall of an opera house.

"And then there are people like Hayley and Suzanne Prentice who use microphones because their voices are not big enough. But they are both really good performers and that is their style and they are very good at it.

"But you can't compare, they are totally different and that is not putting either of them down. It's like my son, who's good at cricket and rugby, but he had to choose one in the end."

Dame Malvina, who regularly keeps in touch with Dame Kiri, said the comments were perhaps misinterpreted.

"I think she shoots from the hip sometimes and then she realises that is not what she wanted to say."

But Dame Malvina is certainly no high art snob. Her first musical loves were yodelling and country music.

"I think we have to enjoy all types of music.

"When I was younger I did a lot of yodelling and listened to people like Slim Dusty."

She has also tried her hand at karaoke, belting out Danny Boy at Parliament with then Prime Minister Jim Bolger.

These days Dame Malvina enjoys the music of Frank Sinatra and Shirley Bassey.

Yesterday's concert was a quick stopover in what will be a busy year for Dame Malvina.

"I will be singing every weekend until April, and then in August I will be going to London to do a concert with Hayley Westenra and Will Martin.

"Every New Year's I tell myself I'm going to slow down.

"I feel while I'm able to sing I will, and if I can help someone out that's great."

- © Fairfax NZ News